EV Uptake Faster than Expected: Benling India
- By MT Bureau
- February 09, 2022
Electric Vehicles or EVs are an important resource for battling pollution and improving the lives and lifescapes of citizens, said Amit Kumar, ED and CEO, Benling India. It is, therefore, good to see the strong and visible focus the Union Budget 2022 puts on enhancing the use and operational availability of EVs in the country, he pointed out.
Kumar said, “While India’s electric vehicle market is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 90 percent to touch USD 150 billion by 2030, it may be safe to say that this market is still in its infancy. With EV sales accounting for barely 1.3 per cent of total vehicle sales in India during last year, the positive policy inputs such as those in the present budget and the shift to shared, electric, and connected mobility could help the country immensely in reducing harmful polluting emissions.”
He added, “The Union budget 2022 has proposed some very assertive measures which will promote the market for EVs across small towns and cities. There is an impactful thrust towards renewable energy incentives with an increased focus on reducing infrastructural waste for a greener tomorrow. This shall happen on the back of measures designed to overcome the hesitancy most buyers have when it comes to EVs. For instance, proposals for the furtherance of clean energy and the ‘Gati Shakti’ initiatives are important areas for the commercial EV segment. In fact, the demand incentives provided under FAME II, the launch of various state policies, the incidence of runaway and consistently rising fuel prices, tightening emissions laws, and increasing awareness about environment and its sustainability are few factors making the EV sector attractive to larger automobile players and financial investors.
“The sector is also witnessing some clear tech-led trends which will define its contours in the coming years. Smart charging where the infrastructure can manage need based charging and also charge itself will be a boon for countries such as India. Autonomy and self-driving cars have seen some big changes over the past couple of years and some movement can be expected in India as well. Increased bets on heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles should see this tech adoption take off soon too. Another trend is the introduction of EVs in different segments to accommodate consumer lifestyles. Alongside the EV trend is the growing dependence on using technology to enhance user experience and drivability. The movement away from analog indicators, switches and dials has been gradual: flat panel displays replace the variety of analog indicators, and touch screens replace the knobs, switches, dials and buttons. There is now a desire to integrate all these individual displays and touch panels as a contiguous surface. Solutions from innovative companies that do things in a different and better way will be the key to forging ahead. Customers want better, and there is a strong motivation in the industry to meet these expectations.”
He said, “Following the launch of the FAME India plan, which aims to transition toward e-mobility in the light of expanding international policy commitments and environmental difficulties, the EV market in India has gained substantial momentum. Additionally, India has the world's largest untapped market, particularly for electric two-wheelers. The automatic route market is likely to gain traction in the next few years due to the fact that 100 percent foreign direct investment is permitted in this sector.”
He also exuded confidence that with increasing demand and investments, the requirements for a skilled workforce in the EV sector can only be expected to grow. “An early identification and investment from government can ensure timely readiness and help capture the opportunity of green jobs that come along with the EV transition. Facilitating public and private investments into skilling, re-skilling, upskilling; research and development, especially for batteries; and innovation hubs at this stage will help reach the desired levels of preparedness for a just EV transition while ensuring local innovation and technology development,” he pointed out. (MT)
Ather Energy Launches 450X Overtones Series And Upgrades
- By MT Bureau
- July 01, 2026
Bengaluru-headquartered electric vehicle company Ather Energy has introduced the 450X Overtones Series, featuring a tone-on-tone treatment across three colourways: Still White, Space Grey and Lunar Grey.
Over the years, the company’s e-scooter lineup has received multiple hardware and software updates, including features such as AutoHold, Magic Twist and Multi Mode Traction Control. Ather has also implemented Infinite Cruise, which facilitates speed management across varied terrains.
Ather Energy’s recent rollout of Atherstack 7 includes new safety features such as CrashAlert that detects accidents and notifies emergency contacts. ParkSafe for providing warnings regarding parking zones and LockSafe, which enables motor immobilisation via the app.
Additionally, the company is introducing a 900W charger, which decreases 450 charging times by 30 percent.
Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ola Electric has announced that it registered 16,144 electric two-wheelers in June 2026, as compared to 20,697 units for the same period last year.
For Q1 FY2027, the retail sales came to 43,719 units, as compared to 22,252 units sold in Q4 FY2026.
“Q1 FY27 marks a significant milestone in our growth journey, with registrations doubling sequentially and June registering 16,144 vehicles - our strongest monthly performance in recent quarters. The sustained momentum reflects the success of our operational improvements, strong product portfolio and continued customer preference for Ola Electric. We remain focused on accelerating EV adoption through technology leadership, manufacturing scale and delivering a differentiated ownership experience," the company said in a statement.
Ola Electric attributes its performance to improvements in retail execution and product availability.
Kazam And AEEE Launch Report On EV-Ready Residential Infrastructure In India
- By MT Bureau
- June 30, 2026
EV charging and energy management company Kazam, in collaboration with the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), has unveiled a report emphasising residential charging infrastructure's role in India's net-zero journey. Titled ‘The Net-Zero Transition Starts at Home’, the document was released at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. The launch was attended by Amal Sinha from BSES, Sameer Pandita of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Irfan Ahmad from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and other energy regulators.
The findings draw from Kazam's dataset of over 80,000 residential charger installations, gathered through field surveys and consumer interviews across 5,000 pin codes, including high-adoption states like Assam, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The analysis examines how EV adoption is altering household electricity consumption patterns nationwide.
India's EV transition diverges from global markets, driven by light electric vehicles, with two-wheelers and three-wheelers comprising roughly 90 percent of 2025 sales. These vehicles are typically charged overnight at home, yet nearly half of potential buyers lack access to formal residential charging infrastructure.
The report identifies three primary obstacles to safe residential charging. Prolonged overnight cycles strain grids not designed for sustained loads, causing overheating, socket melting, voltage fluctuations and inadequate earthing. Structural challenges persist in urban areas, where 70 to 75 percent of residents live in apartments, facing issues like lack of dedicated parking and resistance from housing associations.
Kazam and AEEE convened a roundtable with government bodies, utilities and real estate firms, proposing a four-layer framework defining EV readiness across sanctioned load, metering, earthing, wiring and awareness. Kazam also launched an online quiz for buyers to assess home preparedness. The report notes that for India's growing gig workforce, home charging is vital, as public stations can triple or quadruple electricity costs.
Akshay Shekhar, Co-Founder & CEO, Kazam, said, “Creating safe and EV-ready homes will be critical to sustaining long-term confidence in electric mobility and ensuring the benefits of EV transition are available to all. EV-readiness must become a core component of how residential projects are planned, approved and built, not as an afterthought. From affordable housing to redevelopment projects, charging infrastructure should be embedded into building approvals and occupancy certificates as a fundamental requirement. At the same time, schemes such as PM E-DRIVE and state EV policies can play a critical role in supporting residential electrical retrofits, particularly for low-income households and rental-heavy communities where dependence on electric two- and three-wheelers is the highest.”
Sumedh Agarwal, Director, Smart and Resilient Power and Mobility, Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), said, “India has made significant progress on EV adoption being increasingly driven by people who use their vehicles to earn a living, but our residential infrastructure remains unprepared for the transition at scale. Charging access at home directly shapes the economics of vehicle ownership, particularly for delivery partners, commercial drivers and small entrepreneurs who depend on their vehicles for daily earnings. EV-readiness must now be built into our buildings, electricity networks and urban planning frameworks. The next phase of India's EV transition will be won or lost in our residences, and it must be safe, inclusive and capable of delivering long-term economic and environmental benefits at scale."
Drivn Partners BillionE Mobility To Deploy 200 Electric Trucks
- By MT Bureau
- June 30, 2026
Drivn, an EV leasing platform for commercial fleets, has formed a partnership with BillionE Mobility to lease and deploy 200 electric trucks. This collaboration aims to advance freight operations in India through fleet deployment, route electrification and charging infrastructure.
The first phase involves the deployment of 22 trucks for a cement industry customer under a long-term contract. This initiative establishes an electrified freight corridor. The partners project that this deployment will reduce CO2 emissions by 4,500 tonnes annually compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks.
Alpna Jain, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer, Drivn, said, "Electric trucks scale only when the right ecosystem is in place. Reliable charging infrastructure, alignment across partners, and disciplined on-ground execution are all critical to making large-scale deployments successful. Through our partnership with BillionE Mobility, we are focused on ensuring high vehicle uptime, operational consistency, and efficiency across every trip. This deployment demonstrates that EV freight is not just about replacing diesel trucks, but about building a logistics model that delivers both environmental and operational benefits."
Kartikey Hariyani, Founder, BillionE Mobility and Sanjeev Kulkarni, CEO, BillionE Mobility, added, “At BillionE Mobility, we’re not just imagining the future of mobility – we’re building it. Electrifying India's freight sector is a collaborative effort. By partnering with Drivn, we are combining technology, operations, and financing to remove key barriers to EV adoption. Together, we look forward to helping customers transition to cleaner, more efficient logistics.”
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